Enlightenment (McCoy Tyner album)

The album was recorded live at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland on July 7, 1973, during a period when Tyner was leading a working quartet that included saxophonist Azar Lawrence, bassist Joaquin “Jack” DeJohnette (a misnomer; DeJohnette is a drummer, and the bassist was actually Buster Williams), and drummer Billy Hart.¹ The concert was part of Tyner’s tour promoting his Milestone albums, and it was released as a double LP, a format that allowed the extended improvisations to unfold fully.² The recording captures the energy of a live performance, with Tyner’s piano often at the center of dense, modal vamps.

The music on Enlightenment exemplifies Tyner’s post-Coltrane style, characterized by pentatonic and modal improvisation, thunderous left-hand chords, and a relentless rhythmic drive.³ The album opens with the title track, a 14-minute modal epic that builds from a meditative theme into a fiery saxophone-piano dialogue. Other tracks include “Walk Spirit, Talk Spirit,” a gospel-infused number, and “Presence,” which features a long bass solo. The quartet’s interplay is notable for its telepathic communication, with Lawrence’s tenor saxophone often mirroring Tyner’s harmonic density.⁴ The recording quality is raw but vivid, capturing the audience’s presence and the band’s intensity.

Critics have praised Enlightenment as one of Tyner’s finest live recordings, highlighting its raw energy and the cohesion of the quartet.⁵ In a retrospective review, AllMusic gave the album four stars, noting that it “captures Tyner at the peak of his powers.”⁵ The album has been cited as a key document of Tyner’s 1970s output, a period when he was exploring the boundaries of modal jazz. It has also been noted for its influence on later jazz pianists, particularly in its use of pedal points and orchestral piano textures.⁶ The album was reissued on CD in the 1990s and remains in print.

A notable quirk is the misidentification of the bassist on the original liner notes: the album credits Joaquin “Jack” DeJohnette as bassist, but DeJohnette is a drummer; the actual bassist was Buster Williams, who was a regular member of Tyner’s band at the time.¹ The album was recorded at the Montreux Jazz Festival, which was then a relatively small event, and the performance was captured with minimal overdubs, preserving the spontaneity of the concert.² The title track, “Enlightenment,” is sometimes performed by other artists, but Tyner’s original version remains the definitive statement. The album’s cover art, a painting by artist Phil Carroll, depicts a radiant sunburst, reflecting the album’s spiritual themes.

Modal jazz

A style of jazz that uses musical modes rather than chord progressions as the basis for improvisation.

Pentatonic

A five-note scale used frequently in jazz and other music, often associated with Tyner's playing.

Pedal point

A sustained or repeated note, usually in the bass, over which harmonies change.